Which clause protects the seller from having to keep his house off the market for an extended period when the buyer is contingently selling his own home?

• A. Contingency Clause
• B. Riders
• C. Escape Clause
• D. Protection Clause

Answer: (C)

When a buyer’s ability to close depends on selling their own home, the clause that protects the seller from being tied up for a long time is the escape clause. It lets the seller keep the option of marketing the property and accepting backup offers while the buyer works on removing the sale contingency. If the buyer doesn’t remove that contingency by the agreed deadline, the seller can terminate the contract and move forward with other offers. This directly addresses the seller’s concern about waiting indefinitely for a contingent buyer.

A general contingency clause merely notes that a condition must be met, but it doesn’t establish a clear timeline or a path for the seller to pursue other options. Riders are additional provisions that modify terms but don’t specifically provide a mechanism for releasing the seller from an extended hold. A protection clause isn’t a standard term for this scenario and wouldn’t inherently grant the seller the same option to continue marketing or terminate on failure to remove the contingency.